Metro cops, military still deployed as unrest quelled
A total of 130 people have appeared in court thus far in connection with looting and acts of criminality which occurred in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, earlier this week.
Law enforcement in Tshwane and the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) were still deployed in the metro as the situation with ongoing unrest appeared to have calmed down by Friday morning.
“Tshwane law enforcement teams together with the SANDF remain deployed in various parts of the city maintaining law and order to ensure the safety of our residents,” mayor Randall Williams said.
This after hundreds of people were arrested during acts of looting and criminality which took place mainly in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, earlier this week.
“I am pleased to report that after the arrests, 130 suspects have appeared before the Mamelodi magistrate’s court on various charges including public violence, theft and possession of stolen goods. This is a significant development,” he said.
Williams said that it was important that those who perpetuated the acts of lawlessness faced the full might of the law.
“Our law enforcement has also launched an intelligence-driven operation to recoup some of the stolen goods which were subsequently booked at the Mamelodi East police station,” he said.
While the metro was said to have been able to contain flare-ups of criminality and looting through law enforcement teams working together with communities and other stakeholders, Williams said the acts “should never be repeated”.
“As the city of Tshwane, we would like to send our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during this period,” he said.
Pretoria – Mamelodi: #LOOTING underway at Mamelodi Mall – Reports say police are firing rounds to disperse the looters – STAY AWAY #StateofEmergency
— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) July 12, 2021
While no fatalities had been recorded in Pretoria, at least 100 people were understood to have been killed in the looting and acts of criminality which occurred in both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal through the week.
Williams also called on residents who suspected any individual or group of being possession of or dealing in stolen goods to contact their law enforcement teams on 012 358 7096/6.
“The city of Tshwane says no to looting and criminality,” he said.
Meanwhile, calm appeared to have been restored to other parts of Pretoria which had implemented various preventative measures in the event that they fell victim to the acts of looting and criminality.
Sinoville police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk said the policing precinct was “all quiet” while his Pretoria North counterpart Sergeant Tsakani Miyen echoed similar sentiment, adding they were working around the clock to ensure their policing precinct did not fall victims to such acts.
Monitor Net spokesperson JP le Roux also made similar remarks, adding that private security officers, community policing forums, police and the SANDF were everywhere in the Centurion area.
“We are all connected via the Centurion joint-operational centre and continue to remain on high alert,” he said.
Shopping centres also appeared to return to normal with the Kolonnade Retail Park telling Rekord they were open on Friday morning.
“We are pleased to re-open our mall today and extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has played a part in making this possible. Some shops may need some time to prepare before they open their doors.”
Wonderpark shopping centre’s spokesperson Elizma Mouton said they remained in close liaison with the police.
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